Ryan Mathews, Eagles' lead back, stays low-key
When Ryan Mathews said that his mother spent more time following the Eagles' offseason and how it affected her son than he did, it seemed utterly believable.
When Ryan Mathews said that his mother spent more time following the Eagles' offseason and how it affected her son than he did, it seemed utterly believable.
Sure, he followed the DeMarco Murray rumors and his eventual trade to the Titans in March. And, yes, he realized that Murray's departure bumped him up to the top spot on the running back depth chart - at least on paper. But Mathews doesn't appear to be the kind to sweat the uncontrollable. "It dawned on me, but, again, you never know," Mathews said Tuesday before the Eagles' first voluntary practice of minicamp. "You never know what's going to happen."
There is still the draft, after all, and a franchise-caliber running back that the Eagles could select with the No. 8 overall pick. But after last season, when Mathews clearly outplayed Murray and still sat behind him for months, and a career marred by injury, he has learned not to take anything for granted.
"I really don't read too much into it," Mathews said of speculation regarding his role, along with reports that he, too, was on the market. "My mom usually does. So she's the one that usually updates me on everything."
Mathews did admit Tuesday to the occasional nuisance in sharing the load with Murray last season. And he briefly expressed frustration over the number of injuries he has had during his six-year NFL career. But the 28-year old exudes, if nothing else, nonchalance.
Maybe it's the way he kept to himself last year. Or the way he mumbled answers, often with his back to reporters in the locker room. But in Mathews' defense, the questions probably got repetitive one week into the season. Despite Murray's struggles and Mathews' success, he never criticized or bemoaned the situation.
Mathews signed with the Eagles last offseason even after they acquired Murray, so he knew his place. But when the games started, he performed as if he was in the last year of his contract while Murray's play made it very clear he was content with just cashing in.
Murray clearly wanted out of Philadelphia and the Eagles seemed more than willing to comply, even though they received little - moving up 13 spots in the fourth round - in return. But Mathews afforded them the luxury.
He has a few strikes against him, but Mathews has experience as a lead ballcarrier.
"I've been the guy before," Mathews said.
And when healthy, he has been productive. In six seasons, Mathews has averaged 4.5 yards per carry, which ranks 12th among active running backs. But for whatever reason, he just can't stay healthy. He has missed 23 out of a possible 96 games to injury. Last season, he missed three games after suffering a concussion against the Dolphins.
"A little bit," Mathews said when asked about his level of concern over the pattern of injuries. "But that's where the mental toughness comes [in]. I've just got to understand that it's a physical sport and sometimes you always don't have the best of seasons or can stay healthy."
Mathews said he played most of last season with a groin injury. He wasn't the same player, at least statistically, when he returned from the concussion in Game 13. In his first nine games, Mathews rushed for 427 yards on 74 carries (a 5.8 average) and scored five touchdowns. In his last three - after Murray was demoted - he rushed for 112 yards on 32 totes (3.5 average) and scored one touchdown.
Mathews underwent sports hernia surgery in January and after seven weeks of recovery he said he was 100 percent healthy.
But can the Eagles rely on him for a full season? As the roster stands now, Darren Sproles, who will miss minicamp this week because of a family reason, would complement Mathews in the backfield. But there isn't much depth behind the top two. Kenjon Barner is the only one of the three other running backs with NFL experience.
There are still veteran free agents on the market, but the Eagles won't likely add anyone until after next week's draft. Ezekiel Elliott could be available when the Eagles pick in the first round. Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman lauded the Ohio State product on Monday, but selecting a running back that high would run counter to the draft philosophy they learned under mentors Andy Reid and Joe Banner.
"You can always pick one up middle to late in the draft, you can pick one up in free agency, you can pick one up at the end of the draft," Pederson said last month during the NFL owners meetings. "You're creating a depth position, so there's that chance that you'll pick one up."
Pederson sure sounds content with Mathews and Sproles at the top, but it's hard to write anything that is said during the weeks leading up to the draft in ink. Mathews knows as much. Even if he had the wherewithal, he doesn't seem interested in backroom politicking.
Murray, on the other hand, and his public veneer often betrayed several reports about his unhappiness in Philly. Mathews might have been just as miserable last season. It was hard to tell, though. And at least on Tuesday, he seemed content even if he left outside concerns about his future to his mother.
"She asks me questions," Mathews said, smiling, "and I'm like, 'Man, I don't know. I don't know what's going on.' "
@Jeff_McLane